Useful information for pilgrims

The Barbora Way has more than 180 km. It begins and ends in Banská Bystrica, and can be covered on foot in nine days. It is divided into 9 stages (segments), and you can overnight at the end of each stage. Longer and shorter stages alternate regularly. We recommend that you start with the first stage, Banská Bystrica – Staré Hory, and then proceed along in sequence. However, it is up to you to plan your actual sequence of stage.

The Barbora Way is named after St. Barbora, the patroness of miners. Miners have always honoured their patron saints and prayed to them but also to God. According to the legend, Barbora died a martyr´s death at the age of 29. Therefore, there are 29 highlighted stops on the Barbora Way. The sites on the Barbora Way definitely have mining, historical, natural, religious, cultural, and technical significance. They are well worth exploring.

During the journey you can collect stamps into your Baedeker “Barbora Way – a tour guide through the mining history of Central Slovakia” Stamps are placed at selected locations (pensions, hotels, Information offices, restaurants, pubs ets.), and name of loccation is written in Baedeker.

The list of places where you can get a “Badge and Certificate of the Barbora Way”, and where you can buy “Commemorative medal of the Barbora Way” is written in section about the tour guide, stamps, badges, certificates and commemorative medal.

Particular souvenirs from the Barbora Way

This practical guide provides for you useful information about the stages. Each stage has a separate chapter with the map, trial description, profile, critical points and information about the interesting places on the trials.
Pictograms providing information about places along the route, e.g. service that you can use during your journey, accommodation, pensions, restaurants).
Photographs show individual stopping points and interesting places on the Barbora Way.

“Barbora Way – a tour guide through the mining history of Central Slovakia”
Is possible to buy:

Collect nine different stamps during your journey in the Barbora Way and you get the badge – tower, which is s symbol of the Barbora Way.
Then you show your own tour guide with 9 stamps in this place and you get badge:

The Certificate of the Barbora Way is prepared for everyone who has walked the Barbora Way, has at least 18 different stamps in own tour guide and the completed questionnaire (green paper in the end of the tour guide).

What is important to know before starting your journey?

In terms of weather, the best time for hiking the Barbara Way is from April to October. In the spring and autumn months, you have to reckon with more frequent rain. In the winter months, the mountainous areas may be snowed in. From the end of November to February, temperatures are also usually negative during the day. January is the coldest month.

Each trail stage takes one day. You are free to choose which stages you want to complete, depending upon how much time you can spend on the way (trail). Completing the whole way takes, at least, nine days.

Select appropriate hiking shoes, special, lightweight multi-layered clothing, and a good backpack so that you will not have to worry about those items on the trail. Take shoes and clothes that you have tried before, because new hiking boots may bruise your feet. When packing, consider what you need, and what you can do without.
Remember that everything you take will be weight on your shoulders!

You can get meals in accommodation and catering establishments, pictograms of which are shown on every segment. Please comply with drinking rules, namely drink water regularly, especially on hot summer days. It is also good to have muesli bars, fruit, or chocolate that will give you energy. Soluble magnesium may help prevent cramps (spasms) and tendinitis.

Various categories and prices of accommodation are available to pilgrims. We recommend that you book in advance. At the end of this website and at the end of guidebook “Barbara´s trial” is a list of accommodation facilities with their e-mail and telephone contacts.